Through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the government has granted new scholarships to 4,279 students enrolled in various universities and colleges across Ghana.
These scholarship recipients encompass both undergraduate and postgraduate students, spanning diverse academic disciplines.
This year’s count signifies a significant increase of sixty-three percent (63%) in successful applicants, in contrast to the 2,704 individuals who received scholarships in 2022.
To break down the statistics, a total of 2,951 awardees are pursuing diploma or degree programs, while 1,328 beneficiaries are engaged in master’s or PhD programs, encompassing both private and public colleges/universities within Ghana.
Furthermore, out of the awardees, 1,963 individuals, constituting 46%, have chosen to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related programs. On the other hand, 2,316 recipients, making up 54% of the awardees, are pursuing programs in the field of Humanities.
As of August 2, 2023, the Fund has successfully disbursed a total amount of GH¢25,278,029.39 in fees to the accounts of institutions where the awardees are enrolled.
Recalling events from December 2022, the GETFund had extended an open invitation to the general public for prospective applicants to apply for local scholarships through its dedicated online portal, created both for receiving scholarship applications and their subsequent management.
The response was overwhelming, with a total of 22,000 applications submitted. This enthusiastic interest led the Board of Trustees of the Fund to expand the available slots to accommodate the current significant number of 4,279 recipients.